SM
Newcastle vs. West Ham: 12 hrs
Upcoming predictions and previews
CP
Premier League
Nov 18, 2017 at 3pm UK
 
EL

2-2

McArthur (1'), Zaha (35')
FT(HT: 2-2)
Baines (6' pen.), Niasse (45')

RB Leipzig chief: 'Barcelona wanted Liverpool-bound Naby Keita'

:Headline: RB Leipzig chief: 'Barcelona wanted Liverpool-bound Naby Keita': ID:312466: from db_amp
RB Leipzig chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff claims that Barcelona "did not try as hard as Liverpool" to land the signature of midfielder Naby Keita.

RB Leipzig chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff has revealed that Liverpool beat Barcelona to the signing of influential midfielder Naby Keita.

The Reds reached a club-record agreement with the German club for Keita, who will officially arrive at Anfield next summer for around £48m.

Leipzig were determined to hold on to the Guinea international, and have already blocked an early move in January, but in the end Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp's determination proved too much.

Asked if Klopp played a key part in the deal, Mintzlaff told Bild: "That's right - even more so because Barcelona were also interested in Naby Keita. This was confirmed to us by Barcelona, but obviously they didn't try as hard as Liverpool.

"He wanted the transfer this summer. But [Leipzig sporting director] Ralf Rangnick told the team that we will not sell any players [at that time]. This was not lip service - it was set in stone. Had we released Keita, other players might have come up with a similar idea."

Keita has featured 15 times for Leipzig in all competitions so far this season, netting his third goal of the campaign in the 4-1 win over Monaco on Tuesday night.

amp_article__312466 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2017-11-22 18:24:46:
html db last update - 2017-11-22 18:24:46 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Oliver Mintzlaff

Click here for more stories about Liverpool

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .